Wanda Ritter spent 16 years living on the streets, always hoping someone would listen to her story and help her get justice. She carried a suitcase with her every day, filled with documents and checks that she never cashed. Wanda claimed the government owed her $100,000, but no one believed her. People thought she was mentally ill and ignored her.
One day, a social worker named Julie Turner, 56, heard Wanda’s story and decided to take a closer look at the papers she always carried. To Julie’s surprise, Wanda was telling the truth. She wasn’t crazy like most people thought.
It turned out that Wanda had been receiving checks, ranging from $300 to $900 each month, but she never cashed them. She felt something was wrong and was afraid that cashing them would only cause more problems. Instead, she returned the checks.
Julie was determined to help Wanda, so they worked together to sort through the bureaucracy and fix the situation. After a lot of effort, Wanda received her first Social Security check for $1,644. It was the beginning of correcting the injustice she had suffered for years.
This story shows that we should never lose hope in humanity. Even when it feels like no one cares, there are people like Julie who will take the time to listen and offer help. With small acts of kindness, we can make the world a better place.